Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, on Monday, demanded the Supreme Court to nominate six judges to fill its vacant seats.
Justuce Muhammad, in a letter, said that with only 15 justices on the bench of the apex court, the nomination was necessary since there should be no less than 21 justices in the House as required by the Constitution.
The Ag. CJN also said that the nomination should not be later than Tuesday, June 25.
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Justice Muhammad’s letter read: “By the provision of Section 230(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Supreme Court of Nigeria shall consist of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and such number of Justices of the Supreme Court, not exceeding twenty-one, as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
“As there are 15 Justices on the Supreme Court Bench at present, it is necessary to take steps to fill the remaining six vacancies to make 21 Justices.
“I shall be grateful if you could nominate suitable candidates for consideration for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“In making your submission in respect of eligible candidates, you are requested to forward 10 judgments delivered in contested cases two years preceding the date of nomination in the case of Judicial Officers and l0 judgments obtained in contested cases five years preceding the date of nomination in the case of Legal Practitioners in Private Practice, certified by competent authorities.
“You are requested to comment on the suitability of the candidates nominated by you.”
